Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-05-05
KNIGHTS OF TIE ROAD.

A southern Pacific Train Held Up for
About Five Thousand Dollars Near Pa
page, Arizona, by Gang of Robbers,
Who Also Stole the Engine, Mail and Ex-
press Cars to make Their Escape On.
San Francisco, April ga special to
the Bulletin from Tucson, Ariz-, says that
when the westbound Southern Pacific
overland train was approaching Papago
station, Wednesday evening, Engineer
Harper observed danger signals ahead,
and, upon coming to stop, gang of
men, with pistols in hand, surrounded the
engine and express car and began shoot
ing. The express messenger kept his
door locked and the robbers, falling to
make an impression on it with bars, were
about to use giant powder, when the
messenger succumbed and opened the
door. The men went through the car, Sc
curing what was within easy access, and,
uncoupllng the engine, baggage and ex-
press car from the remainder of the
train, compelled Harper to show them
how to work the engine, and this being
done, they elected him and ran the engine
six miles to Tucson. Here they left it.
During the run the robbers again went
through the mail and express cars. 1t is
supposed they secured about five thousand
dollars in all. No news of the robbery
reached Tucson until after midnight. A
y
yesterday morning. None of the passen-
gers were molested. A sheriff's posse
has gone to trail the robbers. They are
believed to be discharged railroaders
and to be eight in number.
Upon receipt of the news in this city Of
the train robbery near Tucson, General
Manager Towne of the Southern Pacific
issued a circular, to be posted in every
depot of the company, offering reward
ct En-, hn nd 10
ton of the robbers, on behalf of the rail-
road company, and an additional s., 900 on
the part of the Wells, Fargo Express
Company.
In an interview Mr.. Towne said: 'sThere
were five shots fired by the robbers into
the car after the train had been brought
to stop. The robbers had placed ties on
the track and red signal was waved to
stop. When the train came to a stand
still the engineer and firemen were
ordered to get off the engine, which they
did. Then they were each given a stick
of giant powder, and were told that they
must compel the mail agents and express
messengers to open the cars or the rob-
bers would compel them to light the
dynamite to destroy the cars. Under
these threats the express messenger
and mail agents abandoned their
cars. The robbers then uncoupled
the express ana mali cars from une Train,
and ran down few miles. They got S.
600 from Wells, Fargo & Co. The robbers
did not enter the passenger cars. They
left the engineer and fireman standing by
the track. don't know whether the mail
was rif1ed or not''
United States Marshal Mead and five
deputies started from Pantano for the
scene of the robbery upon receipt of the
news. They found the engine and cars a
mile from Papago The robbers had dis.
appeared. The marshal sent for troops
and thirty five soldiers left Fort Lowell
yesterday morning to scour the country
for the miscreants. Another body OF
troops with Indian scouts will start from
Yuma.
Superintendent Wilder of the mail ser
vice received dispatch from Mail Agent
Trus, of the Los Angeles & Deming route,
saying the mail and express clerks were
driven from their cars under threats
of being blown up by dynamite.
The extent Of mail lost is not known.
The express messenger saved 5000 by
cleverly hiding it. The rewards offered by
the Post-Office Depart ent, Wells, Fargo
& Co. and the railroad company aggre.
gate 81, 200 for each of the robbers tn a.
may be captured. The robbers, however
will probably escape into Mexico.